For Those of Us at the Borders: Recognition and Evaluation of Creative Work by Faculty in Film & Digital Media

Creative works by faculty members in the field of film and digital media are not being adequately recognized or rewarded as scholarship activity during performance evaluation in institutions of higher learning. Conventional systems for the recognition and evaluation of work prioritize scientism and compel rigid compliance with norms, pitting individual faculty members and their creative works against an institutional model that precludes the possibility that specific and unique aspects of work will be recognized or rewarded. This dissertation supports these claims, explores appropriate alternatives, and advocates for change, relying upon quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry, including auto/ethnographic and personalized writing, in the search for greater understanding and effective solutions. This dissertation proffers theoretically grounded recommendations, but it is not intended to be the final word on this topic. This research does not intend to advocate singular or ultimate ways for measuring artistic, scholarly, or professional works, but this dissertation can serve as a catalyst for institutional change.